Clan MacLea

Crest: A demi-man representing the figure of Saint Moluag Proper, his head ensigned of a circle of glory Or, having about his shoulders a cloak Vert, holding in his dexter hand the great Staff of Saint Moluag Proper and in his sinister hand a cross crosslet fitchée Azure.[1]

There are conflicting theories of the etymology of MacLea, MacLay and similar surnames, and they could have multiple origins. The name may be an Anglicisation of Mac an Léigh (Scottish Gaelic), meaning son of the physician.[7] In addition to MacLea, the Gaelic language surname Mac an Léigh is also anglicized to McKinley (surname) and MacNulty. The leading theory today, however, is that the name MacLea is derived from the patronymic Mac Dhunnshleibhe, meaning son of Donn Sléibhe (son of + the brown haired, or chieftain + of the mountain).[7] In 1910 Niall Campbell, 10th Duke of Argyll maintained that the surname MacLea evolved from the name Maconlea, which was originally Mac Dhunnshleibhe. By the eighteenth century the standard form of the name had become MacLea or other forms with similar spellings (MacLeay, McClay, etc.). This is largely a distinction without significance, though, as Mac an Léigh is a nickname surname which was given to the Mac Dhunnshleibhe by the indigenous populations in both Ulster and the Scottish Highlands and which was, eventually, adopted as a substitute surname by the Mac Dhunnshleibhe themselves.[8] The Mac Dhunnshleibhe royals were also one of Ireland’s ancient hereditary medical families.[9]

In the mid seventeenth century James Livingston of Skirling, who was of a branch of these Lowland Livingstons, was granted a nineteen-year lease of the Bishoprics of Argyll and the Isles.[13] Sometime before 1648, James Livingston seems to have stayed at Achanduin Castle on Lismore, and it is thought that around this time that the surname Livingstone would have been adopted by MacLeas on the island.[13]

An alternative and the modernly accepted theory, however, is that the MacLea are descended of Ruaidhri Mac Duinnsleibhe, the 54th Christian and last king of Ulidia.[14]

The Coarbs of Saint Moluag are proposed to be closely related to the rigdamnai or Royal Family of Ulster and their use of the name Mac Duinnshleibhe to be a proud reminder and declaration of that fact.[15]

According to Byrne the Ulaid rigdamnai alone used the name Mac Duinnshleibhe

“ So for instance when after 1137 the Dál Fiatach kingship was confined to the descendants of Donn Sleibe Mac Eochada (slain in 1091), the rigdamnai set themselves apart from the rest of the family by using the name Mac Duinnshleibhe (Donleavy)." Francis John Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings page 128.

It seems as though Ruaidhri Mac Duinnsleibhe was the last king of Ulidia dying at the end of the twelfth century . Rory, son of Dunsleve, is number 54 on O'Hart's roll of the kings of Ulidia and described as "the last king of Ulidia, and its fifty-fourth king since the advent of St. Patrick to Ireland."

In Irish Pedigrees – The Stem of the Dunlevy family, Princes of Ulidia, O'Hart says

"Tuirmach Teamrach, the 81st Monarch of Ireland had a son named Fiach Fearmara, who was ancestor of the Kings of Argyle and Dalriada, in Scotland: this Fiach was also the ancestor of MacDunshleibe and O’Dunsleibhe, anglicised Dunlevy, Dunlief, Dunlop, Levingstone and Livingstone. …

According to Dr O’Donovan descendants of this family (Cu-Uladh the son the last MacDunshleibe King of Ulidia), soon after the English invasion of Ireland, passed into Scotland, where they changed their name."

In 2003 a DNA project was established to compare the Y-DNA of males bearing the different variations of the surnames Livingstone and MacLea. The project aims to find a blood link between the so-called Highland Livingstones and the Lowland Livingstons, and to investigate the various origins of these surnames.[16] Many male lines have been identified, including those of Dr Livingstone, a clan member, and the chiefly line of Barons of Bachuil. Considering the above-mentioned theories about the possible origin of the clan in Ireland, it is relevant to report that the clan seems to have no male line with the DNA signature associated with Uí Néill families in Ireland. Apparently many Irish families with "Mac Dunshleibhe" surnames suchy as Dunleavy do have such a DNA signature[17]

Saint Moluag was a Scottish missionary, and a contemporary of Saint Columba, who evangelized the Picts of Scotland in the sixth century. According to the Irish Annals, in 562 Saint Moluag beat Saint Columba in a race to the large Isle of Lismore. The nineteenth century historian William F. Skene claimed the Isle of Lismore was the sacred island of the Western Picts and the burial place of their kings whose capital was at Beregonium, across the water at Benderloch.

The Coarb, or successor, of the saint was the hereditary keeper of his pastoral staff. The Great Staff of Saint Moluag, or Bachuil Mor is thought to be the sixth-century saint's crozier or staff.[13] The Bachuil Mor is a plain wooden staff that is about 38 inches long. There is evidence that the Bachuil Mor was at one time covered with plates of gilt copper of which some remain.[18] On 21 December 1950 on the petition of Livingstone of Bachuil, the Lord Lyon King of Arms ruled that Livingstone was the Coarb of Saint Moluag. Livingstone's ancestor Iain McMolmore Vic Kevir appears in a charter of 1544 as "with keeping of the great staff of the blessed Moloc, as freely as the father, grandfather and great-grandfather and other predecessors of the said Iain."[13]

Since St. Moluag was the founder and head of three schools (Lismore, Rosemarkie and Mortlach) and several subordinate monasteries, he is viewed as a "sovereign lord" by the Lord Lyon. As his successor, the Coarb is viewed as a sovereign baron and is granted a unique Cap of Maintenance of Gules doubled Vair to place in his coat of arms.

Despite claiming ancient heritage the clan was not formally recognised by the Lord Lyon until 2003. The first clan chief of Clan MacLea to be recognised was William Jervis Alastair Livingstone of Bachuil, in 2003. The late chief represented the clan as a member of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.[19] William Jervis Alastair Livingstone of Bachuil died in February 2008 and was succeeded by his son Niall.[20][21]

During the Scottish Civil War of the 17th century the Livingstones remained loyal to the Crown and as a result their estates suffered, firstly at the hands of the Scottish Covenanters and later at the hands of Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarians.[10]

During the 18th century the Clan Livingstone supported the Jacobite rising of 1715 and as a result their titles were forfeited.[10] The MacLeas (later referred to as Livingstones) fought in the Appin Regiment at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Donald Livingstone, Bun-a-mhuilinn, Morvern, was of the Livingstones of Achnacree, Benderloch and was 18 when he fought at Culloden saving the Appin Standard.[22]

Battle of Bealach na Broige. The Battle of Bealach na Broige was fought between various north-western highland clans from the lands of Ross, against the Earl of Ross and his followers. Though the date of the battle is obscure, what is known is that the rising consisted of the "Clan-juer" (Clan Iver), "Clantalvigh" (Clan-t-aluigh, i.e. Clan Aulay), and "Clan-leajwe" (Clan-leaive, i.e. Clan Leay).[23] The Munroes and Dingwalls pursued and overtook the rising clans at Bealach na Broige, where a bitter battle ensued, fed by old feuds and animosities. In the end, the MacIvers, MacAulays and MacLeays were almost utterly extinguished and the Munroes and Dingwalls won a hollow victory, having lost many men including their chiefs.[23]

Achnacree. 1557. The McLeays of Achnacree were almost wiped out, losing 80 men supporting the MacDougalls of Lorn against the Clan Campbell of Inverawe in a clan battle. McLea Manuscript, Highland Papers, Vol. IV, 1296 to 1752, third Series, Scottish History Society, pp 94 to 103.[24]

Dunaverty. 1647. Many of the clan MacLea seem to have been killed when they took the side of the Clan MacDougall against the Campbells of Inverawe, a conflict exemplified by the Dunaverty Massacre. Placed prominently at the top of the second column of a list of those massacred at Dunaverty, 1647, supporting the MacDougalls were these McLeas: Iain Mc Iain Vc ein dui alias Mc onlea, Dunsla M'ein Vc onlea and Iain M'onlea, his brother, (Highland Papers, II, p. 257).

Chief's crest: A demi-man representing the figure of Saint Moluag Proper, his head ensigned of a circle of glory Or, having about his shoulders a cloak Vert, holding in his dexter hand the great Staff of Saint Moluag Proper and in his sinister hand a cross crosslet fitchée Azure, and in an Escrol over the same this Motto CNOC AINGEIL.[1]

Chief's motto (slogan): CNOC AINGEIL (translation from Scottish Gaelic: "Hill of fire").[1]Note: this motto or slogan is derived from a Pictish burial mound behind the chief's house at Bachuil.[25]

Chief's motto (alternate, not used in crest badge): NI MI E MA'S URRAIN DHOMH[2] (translation from Scottish Gaelic: "I shall do it if I can").[25]Note: This motto is said to be a play on words of the unrelated Livingston's heraldic motto: Si Je Puis ("If I can").

Livingston Dress tartan. 'Livingstone Dress, also known as Livingston Dress.[29][30]

Livingstone or MacLay tartan. Livingstone / MacLay. This tartan is based upon the MacLaine of Lochbuie tartan which dates before 1810.[31] The Maclaine of Lochbuie tartan dates before 1810 and was first published in 1886.[32]

^ abcWay, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 414 - 415.

^Highland PapersII. Edinburgh: Scottish Historical Society. 1916. p. 255. Note on list of Stuart loyalists massacred at the 1647 Battle of Dunaverty in Kintyre, Scotland, "Of the surnames appearing in the second column the M'onleas were originally M'Dunleas ; the D disappears through euphonistic elision in Gaelic. Although Niall 10th Duke of Argyll, thought it quite possible that their eponymic ancestor was Dunsleve, the son of Aedh Alain, the O'Neill Prince evidence now leads to the conclusion that they are descendents of the Ruaidhri Mac Duinnsleibhe, the last king of Ulidia."